Sexual Health Concerns

Sex is a big deal. Make informed decisions.

Pregnancy is not the only thing to be concerned about after having sex. If you have had sex, you may have gotten more than you bargained for. It is important to get tested.

At New Beginnings Women's Center, STD testing can be performed on the same urine sample that you provide for your pregnancy test. If you test positive for one of these infections, treatment is available at no cost to you. Testing and treatment referral appointments are also available for your sexual partner. Make an appointment today.

Types of STIs/STDs

STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are common. Some can be cured. Some cannot. Many have lifelong effects. The most alarming aspect of current Missouri STI/STD facts is that many STIs/STDs exhibit no signs or symptoms. If you are a Missouri resident or a student living here who is worried that you may have been exposed to an STD, the only way to determine whether or not you are infected is through simple STD testing.

Possible Symptoms

Some common symptoms of STDs and STIs include:

unusual odor

discharge from the vagina or penis

burning during urination

sores on the genitals or mouth/throat

abdominal pain

many STDs do not cause any symptoms, and it is possible to spread these infections without ever having symptoms.

If you think you have been exposed to an STD, it is important to get tested. New Beginnings provides testing services for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Bacterial Vaginosis, and Trichomoniasis. Make an appointment.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States and the highest prevalence is in persons 15-24 years old. Because the cervix of teenage girls and young women is not fully matured, they are at particularly high risk for infection. Chlamydia can be easily cured, but if left untreated, can cause serious, permanent damage to a woman's reproductive system, making it difficult or impossible for her to get pregnant later on. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that occurs outside the womb). Any sexually active person can be infected with Chlamydia by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has Chlamydia. The greater the number of sex partners, the greater the risk of infection.

References: 1, 3, 7

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that can infect both men and women. It is a very common infection, especially among young people ages 15-24 years. You can get Gonorrhea by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the infection. In women, symptoms of Gonorrhea are often mild, but most women who are infected have no symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. Untreated Gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems. A pregnant woman with Gonorrhea can give the infection to her baby during childbirth which can cause serious health problems for the baby.

References: 1,3,6

HPV (Human Papilomavirus) or Genital Warts

HPV or Genital Warts is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. Most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms; therefore, most infected people are unaware they are infected, yet they can transmit the virus to a sex partner.

References: 3,8

Herpes

Herpes frequently has no symptoms. When the signs appear, there are blisters around the genitals, anus or mouth (wherever the virus entered the skin). The first outbreak is usually the worst. The person with herpes may have additional outbreaks of sores weeks, months and years after the first outbreak. There is no cure for herpes, but there is an antiviral medication that can shorten healing time and lessen outbreaks as long as the person remains on the medication.

References: 1

Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial Vaginosis is a common cause of vaginal discharge in women of childbearing age. It is a condition in which the "good" and "bad" bacteria in the vagina are out of balance. BV is often not considered an STI, but it is linked to sexual activity. There may be no symptoms or a woman may complain of a foul-smelling, fishy, vaginal discharge. BV during pregnancy has been linked to serious pregnancy complications, including premature rupture of the membranes surrounding the baby in the uterus, preterm labor, premature birth, infection of the fluid that surrounds the baby, as well as infection of the mother's uterus after delivery.

Reference: 1,4,9

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis (or "trich") is a very common sexually transmitted disease that is caused by infection with a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Although symptoms of the disease vary, many women and men who have the parasite cannot tell they are infected. Symptoms can vary widely among those infected. Many complain of itching, foul odor, discharge, and bleeding after sex.

Know the Facts. It's Your Choice

You make the decision whether or not to expose yourself to STDs. The number of infected people is constantly increasing and most of these people do not even know that they are carriers of a disease.

They all have consequences no one wants.

Over 19,000,000 people get an STI every year. Over 60% of these people are under 25 years old.3

If you become infected, you probably will not know it, at least at first. It can take months or even years for symptoms to show. But you can infect other sexual partners during this time.

For women who are infected with Chlamydia or Gonorrhea there is a greater chance of developing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, or PID. PID causes about 100,000 women to become infertile each year with permanent damage to the reproductive organs.3

The epidemic of STDs has increased the danger of sexual activity dramatically.3

Be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship. Have sex only with someone who only has sex with you.

You can avoid the consequences of STIs and STDs, but it is a choice only you can make.

We Can Help

Our staff understands where you are and we listen with compassion, not judgment. New Beginnings has no financial interest in your pregnancy because we do not perform abortions or arrange adoptions. We respect your right to privacy. All communication is confidential. And all our services are free.